Banna Strand

Top choice in Tralee

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A favourite weekend getaway for Tralee residents, Banna is one of the biggest and best Blue Flag beaches in Ireland, a 6km stretch of fine golden sand backed by 10m-high dunes, with fantastic views southwest to Mt Brandon and the Dingle hills. The beach is 13km northwest of Tralee, signposted off the R551 Ballyheigue road.

A monument 500m south of the main car park marks the spot where the Irish revolutionary leader Roger Casement was landed from a German U-boat, shortly before the Easter Rising of 1916.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

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    Killarney National Park

    25.57 MILES

    Sprawling over 10,236 hectares, this sublime park is an idyllic place to explore. Ross Castle and Muckross House draw big crowds, but it's possible to…

  • Kells Bay House & Gardens

    Kells Bay House & Gardens

    24.57 MILES

    Opened in 1837 as a hunting lodge, this magnificent estate sprawls over 17 hectares incorporating a waterfall, beach and six different gardens, ranging…

  • Ross Castle, Killarney,

    Ross Castle

    24.26 MILES

    Lakeside Ross Castle dates to the 15th century, when it was a residence of the O'Donoghue family. The entertaining 45-minute guided tour combines an…

  • Gallarus Oratory

    Gallarus Oratory

    24.68 MILES

    Gallarus Oratory is one of Ireland's most beautiful ancient buildings, its smoothly constructed dry-stone walls in the shape of an upturned boat. It has…

  • Kilmalkedar Church

    Kilmalkedar Church

    23.83 MILES

    The Dingle Peninsula's most important Christian site, Kilmalkedar has a beautiful setting with sweeping views over Smerwick Harbour. Built in the 12th…

  • Sunrise over Tralee wetlands.

    Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre

    7.32 MILES

    A 15-minute nature-safari boat ride is the highlight of a visit to Tralee's wetlands centre. You can also get a good overview of the reserve's 3000…

  • Muckross House

    Muckross House

    26.24 MILES

    This impressive Victorian mansion is crammed with fascinating objects (70% of the contents are original). Portraits by John Singer Sargent adorn the walls…

  • Killarney House & Gardens

    Killarney House & Gardens

    23.92 MILES

    Dating from the early 18th century, Killarney House was once part of a much larger residence that was later demolished; it was restored in 2016 and now…

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Nearby Tralee attractions

1. Ardfert Cathedral

2.33 MILES

The impressive remains of 13th-century Ardfert Cathedral are notable for the beautiful and delicate stone carvings on its Romanesque door and window…

2. Blennerville Windmill & Visitor Centre

7.01 MILES

Blennerville, 3.4km southwest of Tralee's centre on the N86 to Dingle, used to be the city's chief port, though the harbour has long since silted up. A…

3. Tralee Bay Wetlands Centre

7.32 MILES

A 15-minute nature-safari boat ride is the highlight of a visit to Tralee's wetlands centre. You can also get a good overview of the reserve's 3000…

4. Kerry County Museum

7.37 MILES

An absolute treat, Kerry's county museum has excellent interpretive displays on Irish historical events and trends, with an emphasis on County Kerry. The…

5. Glanteenassig Forest Recreation Area

11.82 MILES

Southeast of Castlegregory, these 450 hectares of forest, mountain, lake and bog are a magical, off-the-tourist-trail treasure. There are two lakes; you…

6. Loop Head Lighthouse

15.91 MILES

On a 90m-high cliff, this 23m-tall working lighthouse, complete with a Fresnel lens, rises up above Loop Head. Guided tours (included in admission) take…

7. Listowel Castle

16.41 MILES

Standing between the town square and the river, this 12th-century castle was once the stronghold of the Fitzmaurices, the Anglo-Norman lords of Kerry. It…

8. Kerry Writers' Museum

16.43 MILES

The Writers' Exhibition in this Georgian building celebrates Listowel's heritage of literary observers of Irish life. Rooms are devoted to local greats…